defrost

verb

de·​frost di-ˈfrȯst 

ˈdē-ˌfrȯst

defrosted; defrosting; defrosts

transitive verb

1

: to release from a frozen state

defrost meat

2

a

: to free from ice

defrost a refrigerator/freezer

b

: to clear (a window or windshield) with a vehicle's defroster

defrost a windshield to clear it of ice and condensation

intransitive verb

: to thaw out especially from a deep-frozen state

Examples of defrost in a Sentence

You can defrost the soup in the microwave.

Has the refrigerator defrosted yet?

Recent Examples on the Web

The fastest way is to defrost in the microwave, but Baham cautions that hot dogs thawed this way should be cooked immediately after. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025

Store the sausage and beans in a ziplock freezer bag and defrost in the refrigerator before reheating. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2025

These dynamics can hypothetically improve defrosting techniques for various materials. —Andrew Paul Aug 14, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025

The effect might also provide a more energy-efficient means of defrosting, a longstanding research interest for Boreyko. —Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for defrost

• accost
• crisscrossed
• embossed
• exhaust
• recrossed
• uncrossed
• bossed
• cost
• crossed
• dost
• glossed
• lost

Kids Definition

defrost

verb

de·​frost di-ˈfrȯst 

ˈdē-

1

: to free from a frozen state : thaw out

defrost meat

2

: to free from ice

defrost a refrigerator

3

: to remove fog or condensed moisture from

defrost the windshield